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This essay aims at reconstructing - from an historical-critical point of view - the growing interest, in Bronislaw Malinowski's work, for practical anthropology, for the relations between politics and anthropological research, and finally for the relations of the discipline with colonialism. At the same time, the essay seeks to assess the critical literature of the last decades, frequently based on undocumented and superficial assumptions on the relations between anthropology and colonialism. These critiques are often excessively severe, quick and superficial, and hardly based on a careful analysis of the specific socio-cultural contexts of the different types of colonies. Those studies often had the tendency to "project" onto the past, ideas, sensibilities and political choices of the present. Then, we have appreciated and considered valuables some accurate and documented studies on Malinowski as those by E. Gellner, B. Berman, I. Niehaus, F. Focks, and then the general essays of H. Kuklick and G. Stocking. Finally, great importance is devoted to Malinowski's posthumous books The dynamics of culture change. An inquiry into race relations in Africa (1945), and Freedom and civilisation (1947). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnological, anthropological, philosophical and philological studies, along with contributions of Religious Studies, have long ago identified a set of myths and rites which seem to defy history and cultural bars, that is, which go far beyond the time and space framework from which they came. This paper shows how some of these archetypes are present in African cultures, notwithstanding the hermeneutical prejudices some European scholars showed about them. A particular attention will be displayed on rites. Considering the vastness and richness of African cultures, the paper will focus on just some Northern Africa and Sub-Saharan cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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